Apparatus for folding and gumming the side flaps and folding the bottom flaps in themanufacture of envelopes and the like



K. STEMMLER 3,400,642 APPARATUS FOR FOLDING AND GUMMING THE SIDE Sept.10, 1968 FLAPS AND FOLDING THE BOTTOM FLAPS IN THE MANUFACTURE OFENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 27, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet l 2 2 4 t 6 60 m S 0 r 4" .H 3 e E h D s K. STEMMLER APPARATUS FOR FOLDING ANDGUMMING FLAPS AND FOLDING THE BOTTOM FLAPS IN THE MANUFACTURE OFENVELOPES AND THE LIKE 1 9 7 1 n4 0 1. 1 m d e w u S F Sept. 10, 1968STEMM R 3,400,642

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING AN UMMING THE SIDE FLAPS AND FOLDING THE BOTTOMFLAPS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 27, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 10, 1968 STEMMLER 3,400,642

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING AND GUMMING THE SIDE FLAPS AND FOLDING THE; BOTTOMFLAPS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Filed 001.. 27, 19644 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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United States Patent 07 APPARATUS FOR FOLDING AND GUMMING THE SIDE FLAPSAND FGLDING THE BOTTOM FLAPS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES AND TIELIKE Kurt Stemmler, Feldkirchen, near Neuwied, Germany, assignor toRichard Winkler, Neuwied, and Kurt Dunnebier, Gladbach, Germany FiledOct. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 406,686 Claims priority, application Germany,Nov. 15, 1963, W 35,642 3 Claims. (Cl. 93-62) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSUREAn apparatus for folding and gumming various portion of blanks toproduce envelopes, said apparatus being adapted to feed successiveblanks continuously along a predetermined path and in the course ofadvance of the blanks to provide scoring at the inner ends of the bottomand closure flaps, to fold inwardly the prescored side flap portionsprovided on the blanks, to then apply gum or adhesive material to theexposed surface of the flaps, and to then fold a bottom flap over thegummed side flaps to adhesively connect the bottom flap to the sidefiaps. To achieve the foregoing objectives in a rapid and reliablemanner, the means for conveying the successive blanks, through the majorpart of its travel during which the foregoing operations are performed,is a suction roll having a plurality of lines of openings therethroughfor imparting suction to each blank along two different lines, one ofthese being close to the forward end of the blank which constitutes thefree end of the bottom flap, and the other line of suction openingsbeing disposed rearwardly of, but close to, the scored fold line for thebottom flap. The suction roll is preferably provided with lines ofsuction openings of the type mentioned in four regions whose centralpoints are 90 apart. Each of said regions becomes successively effectiveupon rotation of the roll to pick up and transport a blank to be foldedand gummed in the manner mentioned. After completionof the folding ofthe bottom flap into firm engagement with the side flaps, each blank isdischarged from the suction drum and delivered to a collection point. Aspecial feature of the apparatus is the provision of radially projectingribs on a rotary gum applying member, and the provision on the blankcarrying suction roll of grooves that are adjust able transversely ofthe direction of movement of the blanks, to enable certain of them to bealigned with the ribs mentioned. Another feature is the disposition ofthe gumming means above the suction roll, where adequate space isavailable for means preventing objectionable splattering of the gum.

This invention relates to a machine for the manufacture of envelopes orflat bags of paper or suitable materials, especially those envelopes andfiat bags with double side gumming, formed from a blank having a mainbody portion, a pair of side flaps extending therefrom, a bottom flapfolded over and adhesively united to the side flaps,

3,400,642 Patented Sept. 10, 1968 ice and gummed at its side flaps, andits bottom flap is turned over onto the respective side flaps to becomeunited therewith.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved, high speedapparatus for scoring the bottom and closure flaps and for folding andgumming the prescored side flaps and folding the bottom flaps of theblanks over onto the respective side flaps.

A further object of the invention is to provide a high speed apparatusfor the manufacture of envelopes and the like which effectively preventsany smearing and splattering of the adhesive gum needed for the gummingoperation at a processing speed of 800 to 1000 envelopes per minute, oreven higher.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for themanufacture of envelopes and the like which effectively preventsdelivering, of the adhesive gum to the supporting surface of a rotatingroller which carries blanks through the gum applying region, whenever ablank is missing.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

I have found that the foregoing objectives can be accomplished by usingan apparatus which has a plurality of rotating elements provided withsuction means transporting and directing the blanks along the desiredpath. The apparatus comprises in combination a large cylinder rollhaving a plurality of suction means, a gumming means for the side flapsof the blanks arranged above the large cylinder roll and means, forexample guard plates, so arranged in connection with the gumming meansas to intercept any adhesive that tends to splatter. The large cylinderroll has several sections, preferably four, adapted to hold and conveysuccessive blanks for the purpose of folding and gumming the side flapsof said blanks and folding their bottom flaps onto the respective sideflaps of the blanks. The apparatus is further constructed so that theadhesive is easily and readily prevented from being applied to a sectionof the large cylinder roll in the absence of a blank thereon.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the featureshereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims,the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth indetail a preferred embodiment of the invention, certain of the features,however, may be modified without departing from the general principlesof the invention.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the relative position of various rollers andother parts of the apparatus shown in their relation to each other, butwithout the supporting frame structure;

FIG. 2 is a horizontally developed view of a portion of thecircumferential surface of the large envelope blank carrying cylinderroll, with work pieces held thereon;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the envelope blank carryinglarge cylinder roll taken along the line IIIIII of FIG. 2 and of FIG. 4in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the angular line IVIV ofFIG. 3, in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the circumferential wall of thelarge cylinder roll, taken along the line VV of FIGS. 2 and 3; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the position of the envelope blankupon the starting of the folding of the bottom flap.

General construction Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2', 3, 4 and 5, theembodiment of my invention there illustrated comprises a prescoringroller 1 and mating roller 4. Roller 1 has prescoring knives 2 and 3 toprovide the score line 12 for the bottom flap and score line 12' for theclosure flap fold, respectively. Roller 5, with a plurality of suctionholes 6, cooperating with a mating roller 7, serves to deflect the frontedge of the bottom flap of the blank towards the nip of rollers 8 and 9,the radial distance between the axes of which is adjustable. Rollers 8and 9 serve to convey the blank 10 while its side flaps 11 are foldedinwards by loops 14 positioned adjacent the opposite marginal edges ofthe path of travel of the blank. The loops or folders 14 have theirinner edges angularly disposed inwardly in the direction of travel ofthe blank and their longitudinal configuration substantially sinusoidalin form, as shown in FIG. 1, to fold over the side flaps of the blanksas the latter are advanced, in a manner known in the art.

The large blank conveying roller 15 has four rows of suction holes 16distributed uniformly around its circumference, with each row extendingparallel with the axis of the roller, and four similarly distributedrows of suction holes 17. The rows of suction holes 17 are arranged on amember 18 having radially extending arms and cross bars interconnectinglaterally spaced pairs of such arms, said member being swingable aboutthe center of rotation of the large conveyor roller 15 and retained in aselected position in relation thereto. The distance of each of the rowsof suction holes 17 from a related one of the rows of suction holes .16can be changed by turning the crosswise arms 18 in the directionindicated by the U double-ended arrow 19. Suction holes 16 hold theblank material tightly behind the prescored line 12 of the bottom flapof the blank and suction holes 17 hold the blank tightly behind thefront edge 13 of the blank. Arms 18 are carried by the roller 15 and arerotated therewith, but

as indicated above they may be adjusted angularly relative to the roller15. The rollers 20 are conveyor rollers supported by the frame of themachine and are of such length that they do not grasp the blank in theregion of the side flaps 11. The rollers 21 engage the side flaps 11 andcomplete the folding of the side flaps and cause them to lie fiat inconformity with the surface of roller 15. Guides for the blanks whichare not shown are provided in customary manner between the rollers 4, 7,9 and 20, and serve to direct the blanks along the proper path onto andaround roller 15.

Above the roller 15 are located the gummers 22, the applicator segments23 of which are alternatively active and receive adhesive from thereservoir 26 via a scoop roller 24 and a transfer roller 25.Interception plates, for preventing splattering of adhesive ontoundesired surfaces of the machine, are schematically shown at 27 and 28,these being carried by the frame structure of the machine in anysuitable manner.

The gumming device is followed by a suction roller 30 having a pluralityof suction holes 31, a bottom-flap folding roller 33 and a suctionroller 34 having a plurality of suction holes 35, the manner ofoperation of which will be hereinafter described. All the rollers cominginto contact with the blank rotate continuously with the samecircumferential speed.

The main body of the conveyor roller 15 consists of two rings 41 and 42at opposite sides thereof, each having spokes 43 and 44, respectively,and hubs 45 and 46, respectively, which are secured to the shaft 47.Rings 41 and 42 are connected with each other by four uniformlydistributed cross arms 48 and four additional cross arms 49. The ringsand the cross arms are rotated together in the operation of the machine.Each of the four cross arms 4-8 has a suction air channel 50 which isclosed at the end adjacent ring 42 and extends towards the ring 41 intoan opening or slot 51. The opening 51 is connected during a portion of arevolution of cylinder 15, with a vacuum source via a controller head 52which is held stationary against rotation with the rotatable shaft 47and is provided, in a readily understood manner, with an arcuate slot53, beginning in a region adjacent roller 29 (FIG. 1) and terminating ina region adjacent roller 34. A pipe 54-, which may be flexible and leadsto the vacuum producing means, is connected into the passage 53 at anysuitable point. From each suction air channel 5% a number of suctionholes 16 lead outward through suction strips 55 that are firmly attachedby screws 64 or the like onto the cross arms 48.

A pair of rings 56 and 57 (FIG. 4) are turnable to a certain angle onthe spokes 43 and 44 and can be clamped fast in any desired position inrelation to said spokes by any suitable means, not shown. Rings 56 and5'] are connected with each other, in suitably spaced relation by thefour uniformly distributed arms 18. Each arm 18 has a suction airchannel 58 which leads outwardly to an opening 59 extending through thering 57.

The opening or passage 59 is connected intermittently with a vacuumproducing source via control head 60 which is rotatably adjustable onthe shaft 47 and has an arcuate control slot 61 and a pipe 62, which maybe flexible, leadim, "o the vacuum producing source. Arcuate controlslot begins in a region just below roller 20 and terminates in a regionjust in advance of roller 30. Control slots 53 and 61 which provide forcontrolling the period in each cycle during which vacuum or suction isprovided at the rows of suction holes 16 and 17 are independent of eachother.

The surface of the large suction roller 15 is formed by segments havingthe shape of circular arcs which, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, arefastened by countersunl' screws 64 to cross arms 48 and 49. In thedirection of rotation indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2 narrow segments65 and 66 are so fastened in front of the suction strips 55 that theyprovide arcuate openings through the outer surface of roller 15 in whichthe suction holes 17 of the arms 18 are provided. This enables thecircumferential adjustment of suction holes 17 arranged in a row, whilecircular segments 66 serve to provide support for the bottom flaps ofthe blank. Behind each of the suction strips 55, i.e. toward the left inFIG. 2, a central segment 67 and two outer segments 68 are firmlyscrewed onto the cross arms 48 and 49.

Each of the outer segments 68 has a plurality of recesses or grooves 69,FIGS. 2 and 5, for the purpose explained below, and elongated holes 70for the fastening screws 64. The elongated holes 70 make possible axialdisplacement of the segments 68 in such a manner that in the case ofdifferent envelope formats one groove 69 can always be brought below theposition 11' of each side flap to be gummed in alinement with thegumming segment 23. Smearing of the surface of the roller with adhesive,should a blank be absent, is thus prevented in a very simple manner.

In the case of a gluing which does not proceed parallel to the sideedges of the envelope, the grooves 69 in the segments 68 are provided ata corresponding angle.

General operation The apparatus described in the foregoing operates asfollows: Referring to FIGURES l-6, blanks 10 which have been prescoredat the folding lines of the side flaps pass individually one behind theother between the scoring roller 1 and mating roller 4, and are scoredat 12 and 12' by the scoring knives 2 and 3. The scoring 12 for the foldline of the bottom flap lies forwardly, in the direction of conveyanceof the blank, in relation to the scoring 12' for the fold line of theclosure flap. As soon as the front edge 13 of a blank comes between thesuction roller 5 andthe mating roller 7, the blank is drawn in for ashort time just behind its front edge by a series of suction holes 6 andis deflected upwards by roller 5. The blank is directed, with the aid offixed guides (not shown in the drawing) into the nip between the rollers8 and 9, while its side flaps 11 are folded inward by about by the twoloops 14. By means well understood in the art, the suction will beapplied at the holes 6 only as the latter travel through an arc of about90 to direct the blank in the manner indicated. As the side flaps 11engage loops 14, the flaps are first raised and then deflected inwardlytoward the main body portion of the blank between score lines 12 and 12'through an angle of about 120. As the result of the curvature of theroller 15, the side flaps as well as the other portions of the blank arethen placed automatically substantially flat against the contour ofroller 15, and the folding of the side flaps is completed by rollers 21.Shortly before the frontedge 13 of the blank comes below the rollers 20which act inwardly of the fold lines of the side flaps, the blank isdrawn in just behind its front edge by the plurality of suction holes 17and carried along by the roller 15. The row of suction holes 16, afterfurther rotation of the roller 15, grasp the blank just behind theprescoring line 12 of its bottom flap (see FIG. '2). The suction holeswhich are not covered by the blank are closed in a customary manner byadhesive tape or in any other suitable fashion. Upon passage below thegumming segments 23 both side flaps are provided with a strip ofadhesive 11', the adhesive being any of the conventional adhesives knownin the art. As soon as the front edge 13 of the blank has come intocooperation with the suction roller 30 the vacuum is released from thesuction holes 17 of the roller and the forward end of the blank isbriefly carried along by the suction holes 31, as a result of which theblank comes into the position shown in FIG. 6, At this time the vacuumis released from'suction holes 31. Since the suction holes 16 continueto hold fast behind the prescoring line 12 of the bottom flap, thebottom flap upon further rotation of the roller 15 is folded over belowthe roller 30 and carried between the roller 33 and the suction strips55 of the roller 15. Finally the blank comes with the folded glue bottomflap between the roller 34 and the roller 15. The suction holes 16release it because the arcuate control slot 53 from suction pipe 54terminates at this point, and the suction then provided through holes 35of the roller 34, over an arc of about 90, grasp it and carry it alongon the path indicated by the arrows to the closure-flap folding stationand the delivery station, which are not shown in the drawing.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for the production of envelopes and the like in whicheach of a series of blanks having a main body portion, a bottom flap,side flaps and a sealing flap, with the folding edges for the side flapsprescored, is uniformly advanced and in the course of its advance isfolded and gummed at its side flaps and thereafter its bottom flap isturned over and adhesively attached to its side flaps, which comprisesin combination means for advancing successive blanks along apredetermined path, a continuously revolving suction roll in said pathfor receiving and conveying successive blanks during the performance ofthe folding, gumming and attaching steps specified, said advancing meansbeing arranged to deliver each blank in a direction substantiallytangent to said suction roll, said advancing means including means forprescoring the blanks along the lines in which their bottom flaps andclosure flaps are to be folded, means for inwardly folding the sideflaps of each blank as the latter is advanced toward and then by saidsuction roll, gumming means for applying adhesive to the exposedsurfaces of the side flaps, and means for folding the bottom flap overthe side flaps as each blank is further advanced by said suction roll,said suction roll being provided With a plurality of uniformly arrangedrows of suction holes extending across the outer circumferential portionof said suction roll to hold successive blanks tightly in a region justbehind the prescored line along which their bottom flaps are to befolded, said suction roll being further provided with an equal number ofadditional rows of suction holes substantially parallel with andadjustable in their distance from the first mentioned suction holes, theadditional suction holes being arranged to pick up and hold each blanktightly just behind its forwardmost edge.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gumming means comprises aroller having spaced circumferentially extending ribs thereon, and meansare provided on said suction roll for supporting the side fiaps of theblanks to be gummed, said last mentioned means being provided withrecessed grooves and being adjustable transversely to the direction ofconveyance of the blanks to enable certain of the recessed grooves to bebrought below said ribs.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein control means, independent ofeach other, are provided for controlling the portion of a rotation ofthe suction roll in which vacuum is applied respectively at the firstmentioned and the additional rows of suction holes provided in thesuction roll, said control means for the additional rows of suctionholes being adapted to discontinue the application of a vacuum to saidsuction holes at an earlier point in a revolution of the suction rollthan said control means for the first mentioned rows of suction holesdiscontinues the application of a vacuum to those holes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,671,385 3/1954 Johenning 9384830,612 9/1906 Phillips 1182l3 2,615,422 10/ 1952 Ackley 118-2212,800,841 7/ 1957 Walsh 93--62 2,944,470 7/ 1960 Doetsch 9362 3,116,6681/1964 Novick 93-62 WAYNE A. MORSE, JR., Primary Examiner.

